US984585A

US984585A - Solar-heat motor.

Info

Publication number: US984585A
Application number: US49659909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin H Mchenry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-05-17
Filing date: 1909-05-17
Publication date: 1911-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1928-02-21

Description

E. H. MCHENRY.

SOLAR HEAT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1909.

984,585e Patented 11611.21, 1911.

371110,11 tor attentat A es4,5s5.

UNITED STATES' PATENT UFFICE.

EDWIN H. MGHENRY, 0F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SOLAR-HEAT Moron.

Specification of Letters' Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, v191.1.

Application led'May 17, 1909. Serial No. 496,599.

To all whom 'it may concern: y

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. MCI-Inner, a citizen' of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut,have invented certainI new and useful Improvements in Sol ar-Heat y Motors, of which the following is a descripi a motor wherein air is used for the absorption and transfer' 'of solar and atmospheric heat to the boiler in a condensing engine cycle. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character with means for superheating the `air by exposure to solar radiation.

A further object vof the invention is to A provide a device of the above character with means for supplying the air with water vapor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a solar motor with a condenser,

wherein an air blast is used in connection with an absorbent surface supplied with water.

. These and other objects will in part be` obvious, and will in partbe hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings which vshow to a large extent diagrammatically one embodiment of my invention,-'Figure lis a horizontal sectionalrview through the essential parts of Vmy motor; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the heat collector and intensilier; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through thecondenser; and

` Fig. 4 is an enlarged View, showing the absorbent material denser.

`vIn carrying out my invention, 'a vaporizer on the pipes of the conor boiler 1 1s provided, and the steam or vaporj generated therein is led tov an engine 2. The engine 2"may be of an desired condensing type, although I pre er to use the turbine type.- vThe exhaust from the engine` is led to a condenser 3, and the condensed vapors are fed by means of a pump 4 backl to the boiler 1. This, of course, 'is the usual condensing engine cycle.

The vaporiz'er or boller 1 consists, as herem shown, of an outer casing 5, 1n which are located water tubes `t3. These water tubes 6 are preferably provided with uted flanges to'increase the surface of contact with the heating medium. A feed pipe Z leads to the engine 2, and a return pipe 8 extends from the pump to the boiler. The casing 5 for the boiler is open at the end 9, and at its other end is connected with a pipe 10. At the inner end of the casing 5 is a fan 11, which may be operated in any suitable way. The fan 11 is so constructed 'as to force the heating medium through the tubular boiler or vaporizer, and cause the liquid contained in the vaporizer to be heated.

In order to heat the liquid in the boiler, I may force air therethrough, which is at normal atmospheric temperature, but I prefer to provide means for preheating the air before it is fed tothe boiler or vaporizer. As herein shown, I have provided a heat collector or intensifier 12, which is substantially rectangular in form and atits bottom has any suitable non-conducting lining 13, while said collector has a glass covering 14. In place of the glass covering 14 I may, if desired, use a metal covering.

The collector is divided centrally by means of partitions 15, and with spaced projecting cross partitions 16, which overlap, so as to provide a passage leading back and forth through the collector for the air. The air is led to the heat collector by means of a suitable opening 17, and is conveyed from the heat collector to the pipe 10. It will be evident that as the heat collector or intensifier is exposed to the solar heat, the air passing in through the opening 17 by reason ing effect of the Iair has been greatly increased.'

It is well known that air has a very low specific capacity for heat, and that 1f water vapor is added thereto, the heat energy per cubic foot of the mixture of air and water y vaporv will be 4 greatly augmented by the latent heat of the vapor. I preferably, therefore, provide the heat collector or intensifier with means for supplying the heated air with water vapor. As herein shown, I have provided a series of spray nozzles 18, which vare located in the heat collector, and as the air passes over the same, the evaporation of the water will charge the air with water vapor. In place of the spray nozzles, any other i t 'io *will be charged with a water vapor and preheated as it passes through the ducts of the heat collector or intensifier. The exhaust from the engine is led to the condenser 8, which, asherein shown, comprises an outer casing 19, in which are located a plurality of 'Watertubes 20. The Water tubes 20 are preferably provided with luted flanges to increase the surface of contact with the air. Thetubes 20 are also preferably coated with an absorbent material 21.A The end 22 of the casing 19 is left open, andat the other end of the casing is loca-teda fan 24 for causing a circulation of air through the condenser. The inner end of the casing 19 has a'tube24,

through which air may be supplied. 'A res` ervoir 25 is connected'to a pipe 26, which has a series of short pipes 2T leading to the inner side of the casing 19. Through the reservoir 25 Water may be supplied to the condenser, and through the evaporation of the Water the efficiency of the condenser is reatly increased. After the exhaust vapor rom the vengine has been condensed, it is fed back to the boiler or vaporizer by means of the puin 4. v

If desire with my heat -collector or intenser, any form'of condenser may be used. While, on the other hand, with my air cooled condenser in connection Withthe evaporation of Water, I may use air at atmospheric temperature in the vaporizer, and omit my heat collector,` I prefer to use the form of condenser above described, in connection with my improved heat collector or intensifier, for I am thereby able to create a greater di'erence of temperature and pressure between the vaporizer and condenser,

and thus increase materially the eiciency of the engine.

I do not claim herein the method of conn` verting solar heat energy into motive power,

,except as the method is inherent in the apparatus described and pointed out in the appended claims. The broad vmethod of heatinga liquid in a vaporizer by solar heated air, which is superheated by being passed. through a solar heat collector, and expand-- ing said heating liquid in a condensing enine,l forms the subject of my ap lication, Aerial No. 535,048, filedDecember 2 th, 1909. Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1..'I`he. combination of a vaporizer, of av .solar heat collector connected to said vaporizei', and means .for causing aii to circulate through the collector and vaporizer.

- The combination of a `va'poi'izer, fof a solar heat collector connectedjlto said vaporizer, means vfor causing air to` `circulate through the collector and vapori'zer, and means for supplying the air as it is heated with. water vapor. e t i 3. The combination of avaporizer, including tubes'in which a liquid may be vaporized, a casing surrounding said tubes,

a heatcollec-tor includinga casing having a covering of heat-transmitting material, and

having a passage through which air may circulate and besolarlieated, a pipe connect-ing said vaporizer casing with the heat collector, and means for causing the air to circulate through the heat collector and about the tubes in the vapoiizer.

4. The combination of a vaporizer, including tubes in Vwhich a liquid may be vaporized, a casing surrounding saidtubes, a heat collector including a casing having a covering ofpheat-transmitting material and Yhaving a passage through which air may circulate and be solar heated, a pipe connecting said vaporizer casing with the heat collector, means for causing Vthe vair to cir-"-r 6. The combination of a vaporizer, a solar heat collector including a covering of heat transmitting material, a bottom portion having a non-heat conducting lining, a pipe connecting saidy collector With the vaporizer,

means in said collector for supplying the -airv it is heated with water vapor and means for causing. the air to circulatel through the heat collector andtlie vaporizer. Y

7. 'llie combination of a vaporizer, an engine, a condenser and a pump connected in a' cycle, of aheat collector provided with air ducts connected to said vaporizer, and means for causing air to` circulate through said heat collector' and ,vaporizein 8. The combination of a vaporizer, an

engine, a condenser, and a pump connected in a cycle, of a heat collector provided with air ducts connected to said vaporizer, means for causing air to circulate through said heat collector and vaporizer, and means for supplying water vapor to the .air as itis heated.

9. The combination of a vaporizer, including tubes 1u whlch a llquid may be vaporized, a caslng extending about sald tubes, means for causlng solar-heated airto ,circulate through said caslng and about said 'tubes to vaporize the liquid therein, an

engine, a condenser and apump connel'stedv in a cycle, a heat collectons pipe connecting said heat collector with said vaporizer, means for causing air to lcirculte through said heat collector and said vaporizer, sind condenser including condensing pipes, means for supplying the outer surfaces of the said pipes with Water, and means for forcing air around said pipes for evaporating the water and cooling the condensin pipes.

l1. The combination o a vaporizer, an engine, a condenser and a pump connected in a. cycle, means for causing solar heated air to circulate through said vaporizer, said condenser including condensingpipes,means for supplying the outer surface of said pipes with water, and means for forcing air around said pipes for evaporatingsaid water and cooling the pipes-of the condenser.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature,

in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN H. MCHENRY.

Witnesses E. G. MAsois, C. L. STURTEVANT.